Nijith Ompedathil Govindana
a. Senior Consultant Joint Replacement, Arthroscopy & Sports Surgeon, Welcare Hospital, Kochi*
ABSTRACT
Background: Orthopaedic surgery is evolving rapidly, driven by advances in minimally invasive techniques, improved implant materials, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols.
Aim: To provide a comprehensive review of current evidence for key orthopaedic advances and highlight innovations shaping patient outcomes.
Methods: A structured literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases (up to June 2025) was conducted. Keywords included orthopaedics, enhanced recovery, arthroplasty, implant design, robotics, navigation, joint registries, minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopy, biologics, stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, bone bank, allografts. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, registry analyses, and narrative reviews were prioritised.
Results: ERAS protocols combined with ambulatory centres, prehabilitation, and online tracking systems improve perioperative recovery. Advances in implant design include anatomical sizing, patient-specific prostheses, refined biomaterials, and bioabsorbable fixation devices. Robotics and navigation systems enhance surgical precision and are shown to augment, not replace, surgeon expertise. Major global arthroplasty registries provide outcome data guiding practice. Minimally invasive surgery and arthroscopy have expanded indications, while orthobiologics and bone banking broaden treatment options for cartilage, ligament, and bone reconstruction.
Conclusion: Orthopaedic practice is advancing across surgical technique, implant technology, biologic therapies, and perioperative care. Integration of these innovations with multidisciplinary teams and registry-based feedback has the potential to improve patient outcomes globally.